PS 

A9IT4 THE RED TRAIL 

I AND OTHER POEMS 




BY 

A. NELLE JARVIS 




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COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT. 



THE RED TRAIL 

AND OTHER POEMS 

BY 

A. NELLE JARVIS 



GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN 

POWERS-TYSON PRINTING COMPANY 

1916 



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Copyrighted, June, 1916 
Grand Rapid3, Michigan 



JUN 26 1916 
©CLA4J33494 



DEDICATED 

TO 

my dear friend and teacher 
Mrs. Hulst 



I love thee not for the charms alone 

That linger along the years. 
But I love thee for the charms that flee. 
Rose of the dawn and breath of the sea. 
Laughter and gleam of tears. 



INTRODUCTION 



POETRY is the art by which its creator 
embodies his best insight and passion in 
melodious words, fit to carry his own 
inspiration to otliers, and as I have seen the 
production of the poems in this Httle volume, 
a sincere and natural expression of the sym- 
pathies and aspirations, the hopes and fears 
awakened in a nature that is growing in insight 
and power from day to day, I have wished 
that what was achieved by the one might 
become an inspiration to all others who are 
footing the "red trail" of humanity. There is 
a universal element in this art. 

The author of these poems is a girl of seven- 
teen who is just finishing her high school course, 



and, as Longfellow beautifully phrases it, is 

Standing with reluctant feet 
Where the brook and river meet, 
Womanhood and childhood fleet. 

Gazing, with a timid glance, 
On the brooklet's swift advance 
On the rivers broad expanse, 

and feeling that she must soon leave the shelter 
of the valley and climb the steep mountain side. 
Miss Jarvis has been most fortunate in having 
the sympathy of her father, the Rev. R. E. L. 
Jarvis, D. D. Dr. Jarvis has not only ap- 
preciated and encouraged her production of this 
work, but has rewarded her effort by the publi- 
cation of these poems as her graduation gift — 
a fitter reward could hardly be devised. 

— Mrs. Henry Hulst 



THE RED TRAIL OF HUMANITY 

T^HE red trail, the hard trail, the trail of blood 
•*■ and tears, 

A long and steep and rocky way, beset by count- 
less fears — 

But ever morning's glory pales the shadows of 
the night 

God, will they choose to take the way that leads 
them to the light, 

The red trail, the sure trail, the trail of con- 
quered days? 

From camps of ease I see them take the wild 
and tortuous ways. 



THE DREAMER OF DREAMS 

T^HE dreamer of dreams treads the echoless shore; 
•■• UnHghted, his barque moves out on the deep, 

Nor white hands that beckon nor soft eyes that weep 
Deter the sure stroke of his swift-moving oar. 

Through slow-shifting mists to the lands lying far, 
Where the wing of the sky dips blue in the wave. 
The uncharted wastes cover many a grave — 

Has the heart of the sailor forgotten his star ? 

The voices of sirens rise sweet from the reeds 
Of pale, floating isles, in divine melodies — 
Will they lure the poor heart to devouring seas ? — 

They invite the brave heart to undying deeds. 

Cruel wreckage of days fills the perilous years 
And up from the pitiless plains of the sea 
Low thoughts of the world flame luridly — 

For the piloted barque the deep has no fears. 

My Watchman! Thou hearest the harbor bells toll — 
Are the tempests and tides, and the terrors all past ? 
On the desert of waters day cometh at last 

And with it the home-coming flight of the soul. 



— 8 



A HEART ON THE WING 

A HEART on the wing is a weary thing, 
•^ A-roaming, a-roaming, — 
A heart of flame and cloud and dust, 
A heart a-wing because it must, 
A-roaming. 

A heart on the wing is a lonely thing, 

A-roaming, a-roaming, — 
A homeless heart, companion of pain, 
A joyless heart, its love in vain 
A-roaming. 

A heart on the wing is a bitter thing, 

A-roaming, a-roaming, — 
A heart tormented by passion's fears, 
A heart pursued by wasted years, 
A-roaming. 

I will lay me down by the thorn and die, 
And thou, vain heart, in dust shall lie. 
To break at last, who did Heaven defy 
A-roaming. 



— 9 — 



THE HEART'S ANSWER 

t~\ HEART, be still from ever restless roaming 
^-^ Dwell in content by reaches of the sea, 
Nor try thy wings o'er miknown waters foaming 
Their weary length between the goal and thee. 

The Heart's Answer: 

Beneath the dawn I hear the wild swan calling 

As southward, ever southward bends his flight; 
Within the dusk I see the red star falling — 
A heaven lost to win a path of light; 

Far out beyond, wild waters dash them heavenward 

Seeking the sky and immortality, 
And skies unfettered bend then sighing earthv>^ard 

To weep themselves at last into the sea. 

For love, for life, for victory and glory, 
O child of man, I seek the unknown shore. 

And in the purple shadows find my story 
Or sink, with crippled wing, to fly no more. 



— 10 — 



A QUIET HEART 

A QUIET heart I found one day 
■^ Where gentle valleys wander down 
From blue hills misting far away, 
Beyond the sight of mart and town. 

I found it where the sunset gold 
Lay opal-barred on ledge and lea, 

And for the sake of grief grown old 
I carried home the heart with me. 

And yet I feared the gentle thing 
Would scarcely linger with me long, 

For quiet hearts are wont to sing, 
And I had lost the joy of song. 

I bore it through the strife of day. 
Through troubled watches of the night, 

Where men for greed forget to pray 
And little children weep for light. 

And lo! a strange and wondrous thing — 
Where'er the hand of love was laid 

My quiet heart began to sing, 
And ever close beside me stayed. 

The sunsets vanish from the hills, 
The valleys wander to the sea. 

But love lies close, and singing still 
My quiet heart abides with me. 



11 — 



WINGS OF CONTENT 

(~\^ wings of content I joyful rise 
^-^ To sing my matin song — 
On wings of content to Eastern skies, 
Where the smile of dawn is a fresh surprise 
To a heart grown sudden strong. 

On wings of content I seek my day, 

Whether of joy or woe. 
On wings of content, all fear at bay, 
Victor I speed down the lengthening way, 

Choosing to sing as I go. 



^12 



VICTORY 

A CONQUEROR I, with power of heart and mind 
'^*- To rule men's hearts, and mine — 
A conqueror bold, who wrestles with the storm, 
Winning the victory fine. 

I cast no backward glance : my feet on earth, 

My eyes seek out the glow 
Of stars, where hope springs ever fresh to birth. 

With face upturned I go — 

Free as the wing of singing birds at dawn, 

Above the brightening seas; 
Pure as the wild sea-foam that swept along 

The prows of argosies; 

Strong as the heart of man, by passion's lash 

Sped on to victory; 
Free from all power in heaven or earth to bind 

My soul's immensity. 



— 13 — 



TELL US OF LOVE 

'T'ELL us of Love — 

"Tears," sighed the wind, "till the close of day." 
And the hedges brown with their empty nests 
Wept in the mist for the loving breasts 

The winter had driven away. 

Tell us of Love — 

"Gain," cried the world, "and passion's embrace," 
And it mocked, as the lovers of life swept by 
Over the graves where they soon should lie 

In the ashes of love's disgrace. 

Tell us of Love — 

"Peace," sang the heart, "in the firelight's glow," 
A man's whole faith and a woman's trust; 
The prayers of a child; a life or a crust 
Shared with a soul brought down to the dust; 
The smile of a friend, the heart of a foe, 
And God in the silence whispering low. 



— 14 — 



FRIENDSHIP— A SELECTION 

r^ONSTANT as is the widowed dove; 
^-^ Humble as maiden that loves in vain; 
Holy as hermit's vesper strain; 
Gentle as is the breeze that dies, 
BHthe as the leaves stirred by its sighs; 
Lovely as is the sun's bright ray 
At mid-day on an August day. 



— 15 — 



MY WISH— TO A FRIEND 

f WOULD thee loved me as the mist 
■*■ Is loved by the ardent day — 
So nature chaineth fleeting passion, 
And e'en from change and death doth fashion 
Love that loves always. 



— 16 



FOR YOU 

T^HE stars shine bright in the evening sky, 
■*■ The soft winds of night so gently sigh, 
Though all is calm, the very blue 
Seems to be callin', dear, for you! 

I hear it in the gentle brook 

That winds through woods and fragrant nook, 

I see it written in the blue — 

Dear one, we're longin' so for you! 

I feel that in each passing breeze 
And every stir of rustlin' leaves 
There's something caUin', — oh so true! — 
I wonder if it 's not for you? 

The friendly moon, though shining still 
Above the crest of yonder hill. 
Yet seems to grieve, as we all do, 
Just longin' for a sight of you! 

Come back again to me, my dear, 
Come back and wipe away the tear 
That every hour I shed anew, 
While just a-longin', dear, for you! 



17 — 



MY AWAKENED HARP 

T PRAYED for passion and a song — 
*■ My gift was pain and tears 

And vista of dull years 
Down wind-swept paths, along 

A waste as passionless 
As innocence untouched by wrong. 

Faith wrested passion out of pain — 
It tuned to winds that blew 
My listless harp, and drew 

From tempests such refrain 

Of victory that joyous years, 

Now golden-voiced, still chant the strain. 



— 18 



PEARLS 

/^UR hidden thought flows on, so swift, so strong, 
^-^ By night's melodious fingers swept along 

The harp of life — it seems at times a strain 
Of magic m^usic, wrought of tears and song. 

And all the while the far-off waters roll, 
And sound of chant and solemn bells a-toll 

Disturb the dreaming of the sea-lapped shell — 
Are they lamenting a departed soul? 

I only know that life must have its grief 
As earth its rain, for growing time is brief; 

Love honors pain with tender ministry 
And gives for tears the calm of sure belief. 

I only know that passion flames and grows 
Until the breath of heaven on it blows, 

And heaven's tears unpearl the burning grief 
As drops of dew the heart of the red rose. 

Oh, that the joy of life should pain outlast! 
The swollen tide sweeps on, but skies o'ercast 

Cannot withhold the sudden gleam that shores 
Our grief as pearls upon the sea-beach cast. 



19 



OPPORTUNITY 

nPHOUGH close beside thee shines the Open Door, 
* Thou, laggard heart that will not seek the goal, 
Of God's free gifts on this His great highway. 
Thou, loiterer by the way, demanding toll, 

I'll flame thee with the bribe of love and wealth, 
I'll scourge thee, heart, I'll drive thee to thy task; 

A little strength thou hast, I do not ask 

That thou shouldst reach the goal before the day is done. 

Nay, set no demons on m.y track. 

Nor send me flushed v/ith wine and stained with vice 
Across the glory of the Open Door — 

Who enters there must offer sacrifice. 

Strip me of earth, that freely I may run 

And clean of stain along the King's highway; 

Place on my brow the wreath of heroes won, 
Then will I show at eve a conquered day. 



20 



SHADOW OF TURNING 

T^AWN her breath across the mountains blew at morn, 
^^ Dropped her golden circlet on the brow of Day, 
Hope his clarion trumpet sounded, men new-born 
Challenged life to combat on the way. 

Soon all was still: 

Day's light had fled 

In shadow of turning. 

Love at dawn among the glories walked, and smiled; 

Love at noon her burden found too great, and sighed; 
Love at eve red poppies twined, pale and wild 
Wove her wreath beside a tireless heart, and died. 
Saddest of all 
When love hes dead 
In shadow of turning! 

"Give us, God," I grieved, "a gift divine for men, 

Changeless, changing hearts to comfort and to save" — 
Lihes, silent, beckoned lihes bright with heaven, 
Swayed their golden depths to show a cross and open 
best of all! [grave. 

In love of God 
No shadow of turning! 



21 — 



THE WATERS OF QUIET 

lyiY heart passes swift through the flame to the strand, 
■^ ■■• Where the rivers of quiet run soft through the land, 
Through desert and quicksand and place of dull pain 
The waters of quiet flow softly. 

Like splash of sweet fountain to ears growing dull. 
Like pools of clear water where white fingers cull 
The red rose, the white rose, the rose without thorn. 
The waters of quiet flow softly. 

I seek them through perils of untravelled seas, 
I breathe but their name in the garden of ease; 
For a pure heart, a foul heart, a hot heart that grieves 
The waters of quiet flow softly. 

Fair fountains of youth from the lap of the hills. 
Sweet, oh sweet waters, your melody thrifls 
The weary, the vanquished, the fighters for God — 
Oh, waters of quiet, flow softly! 



22 — 



THE WORDS OF HIS PATIENCE 

"HPHOU hast kept my Patience," — softly runs the measure, 
* Written in the glory of an ancient day. 

Written with the passion men bring back from visions, 
Wisdom gleaned from angels talked with by the way. 

"Thou hast kept my Patience," — the old, old story 
Running golden-worded through the length of days, 

Sung by conquered forests, toned by boundless oceans. 
Echoed from the passes of countless mountain ways. 

"We have kept His Patience," — still the singers chant it. 
Ashen faces lifted from their beds of pain, 

Singing in the shadow of the darkened valley. 

Faint and weak from toiling on the burning plain. 

"We have kept His Patience," — louder grows the burden, 

Swelling into paean as the ages roll. 
Paean sung by angel choir, choir of the immortals. 

Those who overcame the world, the heavens now enroll. 



23 



JUDGMENT 

T^HREE souls at eve went wandering far 
* Into the dusk with the evening star; 
And one was black with passion and hate, 
And one was pale with wasted days, 
And one, so burdened with life and fate 
It trembled and shrank from heavenly ways. 

Three souls together sped after the dawn, 
Ever beyond in the Eastern skies. 
Winging with hope 'till they falter and sink 
And tremble in fear on a fateful brink 
Bounding a shadowless realm and still, 
A land where a God is Lord of the Will. 

Three souls bend low at the judgment seat, 
Heavy upon them the hand of fate. 
Then spoke a voice, deep, strong, yet sweet, 
Free from all guile, free from all hate: 

"Thou who hast yielded to passion and hate, 
Forcing Death's bars in thy lust for light, 
Go back to the earth, and there mediate 



— 24 



Judgment — Continued . 

'Twixt me and the hearts who with such might 
Destroyed thy fair honor — love shall efface 
Passion's dark blot, and anguish make white 
In the grind of the mill the stain of disgrace. 

"And thou, pale spirit of profitless days. 
Ghost of earth's cycle of pleasure and ease, 
Sink to the grave where thy body betrays 
Its poor worthless dust; for wine on the lees 
The earth be the cup; perchance through the days 
Of darkness, and horror, and grief multiplied. 
Tears of repentance shall steal through the mold 
And Heaven's eucharist — be a soul purified. 

"And thou, sad soul of a weary day. 
Burdened with thoughts that efface the stars, 
The defeats of earth are heaven's gains. 
And struggle and pain the gold of her way. 
Hell is thyself — although still unperfected — 
Heaven, the guerdon setting thee free 
From trammels of earth, with faith resurrected, 
And courage new- winged in liberty." 



25 



WINTER 

/^OME, come with me, the winter woods are sleeping, 
^ The violet and the windflower lie buried 'neath the snow, 
Steadfast and calm the hills their watch are keeping, 
And soft within their icy walls the quiet waters flow. 

Come, come with me — Oh, call it not sad dying! 

Death loves not dreams where life throbs full and strong; 
Hope hears the heart within the pine trees sighing 

And murmur of the spring in the red bird's song. 

Come, come with me, the sunset glory lingers. 
Folding its radiance o'er our common day. 

Earth flames to heaven as touched by angel fingers, 
Lifting before us a new and radiant day. 



— 26 — 



SPRING 

T^HE spring has come, the glad, glad spring! 
■*• The very trees with music ring, 
The bluebird calls it from the sky. 
The robin sings it from on high. 
The mists from far out on the sea 
Shroud all the land in mystery, 
But let no mist fear to thee bring, 
Be glad, oh heart, for now 't is spring! 



— 27 — 



THE VEILS OF DAWN 

"As yesterday when it is {jast, and as a watch in the night. 

(~\il, the Veils of Dawn on gossamer days, 
^-^ Spun on the bending grass, 
Scented with breath of pale moon-flowers. 
Sparkling with jewels, the evening hours 
Drop softly as they pass. 

Oh, the Veils of Dawn on gossamer days. 

Caught by the sighing breeze. 
Pale as a breath on the frost-bound air, 
Light as the step of Pan in his lair 

At the foot of moss-grown trees. 

Oh, the veils of Dawn on gossamer days. 

Breath of long hours of toil. 
Lost in the vastness of wind-swept space, 
Vanished, but leaving a gentle grace 

To rest on the day's turmoil. 



28 



SILENCE AND MEMORY 

'T'ELL me, where does silence dwell? 
■■■ Not in the wood, not in the dell 
Where flows the flashing, dashing brook, 
Singing its way from mossy nook, 

Where, oh where does silence dwell? 

Tell me, where does memory keep 

Vigil lone, when soft-eyed sleep 
Flees the dusk, and one by one 
Evening stars forget their song ? 

Where does memory vigil keep ? 

I will tell — in the heart of a rose 
Love is born when the May wind blows, 
And over the grave where love lies deep, 
Dead with the rose, afar from sleep, 
Silence and memory vigil keep. 



— 29 



A BREATH OF REMEMBRANCE 

A BREATH of remembrance — shall it rest 
-^ In light of dawn upon her way, 
Fluttering promise of victory 

Across the page of an unknown day ? 

A breath of remembrance — it shall rise 
When moons burn out and stars are fled 

And the rush and roar of fevered day 
Their swirling waters about her spread. 

A hush, a whisper, a face to the sky, 
The old, old wish of a heart set free, 

And out of the storm that is hurrying by — 
A breath of remembrance for her and me. 



30 



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